AMD Framepacing Catalyst 13.8 driver review

We examine the new AMD Catalyst 13.8 Beta driver that should insert a new feature called framepacing. In our recent FCAT benchmarking article from April, we discovered that AMD Crossfire suffers badly from a phenomenon called micro-stuttering. A problem that has been known for years and something both AMD and NVIDIA have had. NVIDIA solved their issue starting with Kepler based graphics cards. However since a new technique called FCAT was introduced, a whole lot of micro-stuttering was exposed for AMD, putting them on severe pressure to release a fix for this. Today is the day that we look at AMDs Catalyst 13.8 Beta frame pacing driver and examine the latest games to see if AMD has made progress.

#4630234 Posted on: 08/01/2013 11:00 PM
Been watching for reviews and articles for hours since the driver release.

Amazing stuff. I'd like to know how previous generation Nvidia GPUs do in frame pacing as those allegedly have hardware-based frame metering. This idea is confusing me since microstutter was apparent before Kepler yet even G80 had hardware for that stuff.

Espionage724
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#4630308 Posted on: 08/02/2013 01:25 AM

These drivers install fine for me with Windows 8.1. I only have a single GPU though....

You're sure about this? I have a desktop and laptop with 8.1 Preview (9431) and both couldn't install this driver. My desktop is single-GPU (7850) and my laptop is Dual Graphics (7660G + 7670M)

PhazeDelta1
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#4630314 Posted on: 08/02/2013 01:36 AM
Hey Hilbert, what is that green PCB add in card above the SSD in the pic on page 4?

Nice review btw. Good work AMD for taking care of a long standing issue.

Titan29
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#4630355 Posted on: 08/02/2013 02:53 AM
Many thanks Hilbert!

Pale Rider
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#4630385 Posted on: 08/02/2013 04:39 AM
Any chance this will work with an ASUS Ares II?Remounting this card and its radiator really isn't something I want to do unless there's some indication that this new driver will work.Anybody else who owns one of these cards knows exactly what I mean.

Hilbert Hagedoorn
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#4630397 Posted on: 08/02/2013 05:29 AM
Hey Hilbert, what is that green PCB add in card above the SSD in the pic on page 4?

Nice review btw. Good work AMD for taking care of a long standing issue.

The framegrabber / capture card.

Hilbert Hagedoorn
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#4630398 Posted on: 08/02/2013 05:29 AM
Any chance this will work with an ASUS Ares II?
Remounting this card and its radiator really isn't something I want to do unless there's some indication that this new driver will work.
Anybody else who owns one of these cards knows exactly what I mean.

There's no indication as to why it wouldn't work - It is made for exactly these setups, 99% sure it will work.

There's a tricks for it, go see in the AMD driver thread, 13.8 .. ( need move a folder )

Been watching for reviews and articles for hours since the driver release.

Amazing stuff. I'd like to know how previous generation Nvidia GPUs do in frame pacing as those allegedly have hardware-based frame metering. This idea is confusing me since microstutter was apparent before Kepler yet even G80 had hardware for that stuff.

In reality, the commonly called micro stutter and frame rate timing behaviour are not the same thing.. ( well it can be a cause of micro stutter, in extreme case, ( when you have some frames at 89ms and some at 8ms just before ).

Anyway, Nvidia have never use it before Kepler..

The story is more complex than that .. and its not really easy to get the full picture without been able to test ourself ( cost too much money )

#4630701 Posted on: 08/02/2013 04:46 PM
Actually i think APU CFX are not supported yet by this driver( or not in all hardware setup )... The thing is a bit more complicate ofc in the case of the GPU" inside the CPU " + a "standard GPU" CFX. I can understand they will need a bit more time.

yasamoka
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#4630704 Posted on: 08/02/2013 04:50 PM

In reality, the commonly called micro stutter and frame rate timing behaviour are not the same thing.. ( well it can be a cause of micro stutter, in extreme case, ( when you have some frames at 89ms and some at 8ms just before ).

What? Of course they aren't the same thing. I meant they had hardware to DEAL with the issue, by frame pacing / metering.

Anyway, Nvidia have never use it before Kepler..

Source?

Spets
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#4630707 Posted on: 08/02/2013 04:54 PM

Source?

Improved Frame rate Metering

Kepler introduces hardware based frame rate metering, a technology that helps to minimize stuttering. In SLI mode, two GPUs share the workload by operating on successive frames; one GPU works on the current frame while the other GPU works on the next frame. But because the workload of each frame is different, the two GPUs will complete their frames at different times. Sending the frames to the monitor at varying intervals can result in perceived stuttering.

The GeForce GTX 690 features a metering mechanism (similar to a traffic meter for a freeway entrance) to regulate the flow of frames. By monitoring and smoothing out any disparities in how frames are issued to the monitor, frame rates feel smoother and more consistent.